I have not found a better on-ear headphone for classical, jazz, acoustic, or classic rock. Are there better portable on-ear headphones out there that you know of for those genres?

Besides one not yet finished diy project of mine I have not. Then again I am not that experienced with portable headphones. I was comparing Mikros to full size headphones because I lack proper reference in world of portable headphones. I like Mikros with classical. Especially I enjoy string instruments, particularly cello. I just wish Mikros had bigger soundstage. For me it is particularly important with classical music.

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Originally Posted by pataburd
Actually, from my experience with the SA-5000--which had a regular tendency toward shrillness or stridency in the HF with certain genres/recordings--I think the MLs resolve treble better. I have a "bass-light" stock pair with particularly exceptional treble extension and midrange adroitness that resolve cymbals and bells extremely well, and with a speed and deftness rivaling the famously quick SA-5000.

SA-5000 is definately shrill sounding headphone that needs to be paired with suitable gear. I love SA-5000 but I consider the excessive brightness a design flaw. Mikros do have more natural and detailed high end than Sonys. There is a line where excessive brightness starts to kill detail at top and SA-5000 crossed that line. Of course every person has their own limits, some are more sensitive to sibilance and harsh highs than others.

Mikros do compare really nicely to SA-5000 when talking about fast headphones. It is really impressive how they managed to do it in a closed small housing. This is one of the main reasons I would have liked to see a fullsize version. They could have done wonders with fullsize cans...

Quote:

Originally Posted by pataburd

Next-to-lastly, I think the Mikros 90 accurate 3-D rendering does more justice to a recording than the unnaturally "larger than life" depiction of, say, something like the K70x. I actually get a better sense of space, and even a better sense of [actual versus "virtual"] largesse, with the MLs.

It has been a long time since I had K701 but I agree with the unnatural soundstage thing. Besides overall sterility compared to K501 it was my main complaint about K701. I love huge soundstages but it needs to be well proportioned. Akg's had huge width but less so impressive debth which sounded really weird to my ears. I would take Mikros soundstage presentation any day over AKG's. It is when compared to headphones that do big soundstage properly (DX1000 is amazing with it) mikros fall short. But then again, small, affordable, closed...

Those quality control issues are a trouble indeed. Makes giving impressions less usefull when nobody can be sure which kind of pair one has. For that reason it is even more iappreciated that people have multiple pairs. You are doing a great work Pataburd :)

Just hooked them up to my HT gear downstairs--so no great shakes for source/amp: Sony BDP-S540/headphone out, Denon AVR-1905.

What I have heard I admittedly like so far, though, which surprised me, given my so-so experience with the A950LTD some years back.

Funny hobby. What I may not have liked ten years ago becomes something I like today.

To me, the A1000X are the "midrange-centric" headphones that the reconstituted DT880 Premium/2005 [a huge disappointment, given the prior DT880/2003] aspired to be. Mids are forward, but fleshed out, coherent and detailed. Definitely some roll-off at both HF and LF extremities, but it seems to be just enough not to bother me, at least at this novelty stage of my encounter with the A1000X.

The A1000X offer up a spacious [despite their closed design], lively and immersive listening experience, too.

I agree that the "wing" support system, while appreciably lighter and less bulky feeling, is not as robust as what was used in the past, e.g., on the AD700, and might warrant a demerit. But, fortunately, I have a big head. I tip the wings slightly forward and position the earcups a bit high on my ears to get a proper fit.

I will say that I MUCH prefer these to the DT990/600 [I know: the Beyers are open] I auditioned a week or so ago.

Music (so far):

Bob James in Hi-Fi (SACD)

Lee Rittenour Collection

Will a/b with the Mikros 90 perhaps later today. The ATH have an OCC copper cable, so wire-wise they should be equivalently matched.

If you have some pads that fit ath's try them out. Allmost all other pads I tried sounded better than the stock ones. I'ts a great headphone. I prefer it over Dt880 premium 600ohm and Sennheiser hd600... I thought open headphones would have an edge there but it was quite obvious W1000X is a league above.

If you have some pads that fit ath's try them out. Allmost all other pads I tried sounded better than the stock ones. I'ts a great headphone. I prefer it over Dt880 premium 600ohm and Sennheiser hd600... I thought open headphones would have an edge there but it was quite obvious W1000X is a league above.

Thank you for the ear pad tip.

Do you have some alternate pads in mind that will do the best job with the A1000X?

My favorite were DX1000 pads but those cost about 100$+shipping from japan. Many people seem to like lawton audio pads and J$ pads. Those might also be expensive and hard to come by... I ended up with Philips SBC HP890 pads. Those are very high quality velour pads. Pad lip is durable leather material. Maybe you could find a pair of those headphones on ebay...I don't think used pair in good condition would cost much more than 30$. Also check out other older Philips models. There are more old Philips headphones out there with good pads. It is a bit hard to find suitable pads for w1000x because it is so big. Maybe some denon pads would fit? Or Audeze? If you plan on keeping those also check out purrin mod. W1000X appreciation thread is a great source for information.

I agree that the "wing" support system, while appreciably lighter and less bulky feeling, is not as robust as what was used in the past, e.g., on the AD700, and might warrant a demerit. But, fortunately, I have a big head. I tip the wings slightly forward and position the earcups a bit high on my ears to get a proper fit.

i used some window windprooftape to tie up the two wings to fit my skull :P